Ganymede
A beautiful Trojan prince abducted by Zeus to serve as cup-bearer on Olympus. Ganymede became immortal and was placed among the stars as the constellation Aquarius.
The Legend of Ganymede
A prince of Troy so beautiful that Zeus himself was captivated, Ganymede was snatched from Mount Ida by Zeus's eagle (or by Zeus in eagle form) and carried to Olympus to serve as cupbearer to the gods. Hera resented the boy's presence. Zeus compensated Ganymede's father Tros with divine horses and set Ganymede among the stars as the constellation Aquarius. The myth connects Troy's royal house — the line of Priam, Hector, and Paris — to Olympus itself, and echoes the divine abductions of Europa and Io.
Parents
Tros and Callirhoe
Symbols
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Ganymede
🗡 herobeauty
Most beautiful mortal boy, abducted by Zeus (as an eagle) to serve as cupbearer of the gods on Olympus.
Anchises
🗡 heroLove, royalty, Troy
Trojan prince beloved by Aphrodite and father of Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome
Anaxibia
🗡 heroMarriage, royalty
Mycenaean princess who married Strophius of Phocis and raised the young Orestes in secret
Paris
🗡 heroPrince who caused the Trojan War
Paris was the Trojan prince whose judgement of three goddesses and abduction of Helen ignited the Trojan War — the most consequential act of desire in Western mythology.
Jason
🗡 heroLeader of the Argonauts, seeker of the Golden Fleece
The hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis in quest of the Golden Fleece. Jason's story is one of ambition, adventure, and tragic betrayal.
Bellerophon
🗡 heroThe hero who tamed Pegasus
The Corinthian hero who tamed the winged horse Pegasus and slew the Chimera, but fell from heaven when he tried to reach Olympus.
Jason
🗡 heroLeader of the Argonauts
The hero who assembled the Argonauts and sailed to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece, aided by Medea's sorcery.
Pelops
🗡 heroFounder of the Peloponnese dynasty
Pelops was the prince served as food to the gods by his father Tantalus, restored to life with an ivory shoulder, and founder of the cursed dynasty that ruled Mycenae.
Arsinoe
🗡 heroNursing, protection
Nurse or foster-mother of Orestes who saved the prince from Clytemnestra's murderous designs
Ariadne
🗡 herolove
Cretan princess who saved Theseus with a ball of thread, was abandoned on Naxos, and became the immortal wife of Dionysus.
Butes
🗡 heroBeekeeping, Resistance, Sirens
Argonaut and Athenian hero who alone leaped toward the Sirens and was saved by Aphrodite.
Leucippus of Messene
🗡 heroFatherhood, Daughters, Spartan Rivalry
Messenian king whose daughters Hilaeira and Phoebe were carried off by Castor and Polydeuces.